Velcro Front Number Plate?

craigieb · Post by **craigieb** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 8:02 am

Howdy,

Having read on a few other posts about the sound of front number plate scraping being used as an "early warning" for possible clam damage (if you hear it/are able to stop presumably), just wondering if a number plate fixed on with screws would damage the front clam anyway if it does get snapped off

And would a velcro front plate (although illegal) solve this, in that you get the early warning, but not damage if it does come off completely

As ever, any thoughts/previous experience/general abuse gratefully received

cheers
craig

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 8:03 am

Apparently to velcro your plate is illegal.
I was given a warning when I did it.

mac · Post by **mac** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 8:15 am

Gareth wrote:Apparently to velcro your plate is illegal.
I was given a warning when I did it.

"And would a velcro front plate (although illegal)......."

Little one have you up last night G?

Mac

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 8:35 am

Yup, misread it....and yes Mac, didn't sleep too well.

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 8:52 am

Craig,

Not sure what the new 'S' mount is like, but on the S1, there's a little plinth that sits proud of the clam for the plate to rest on. I drove into a parking space, and heard an almighty crack, and thought I'd done in the clam. luckily, t'was just the plate, so yeah, for an S1, its a great early warning! the plinth did get a bit out of shape, but the clam was fine.

I've now velcro'd the plate on with superstrong stuff (from John Lewis - £1.75) and it just passed its MOT with no worries (and passed everything bar emissions the previous time). That's 2 different test centres that had nowt to say about it.

Speak to Si about the S2 plate/plinth - on some of his photos, it looks to me like its a direct stick onto the clam.

Cheers,

Greg

MacK · Post by **MacK** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 9:07 am

S2 plinth is part of the clam.

My plate is velcro'd on too and no MOT issues either.

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 9:22 am

my front number plate is the best fitting thing on my car....tried to remove it, but feared damaging the fron clam....it is that well stuck on!

Lazydonkey · Post by **Lazydonkey** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 12:37 pm

Mine also passed MOT with a velcro'd front plate.

Very handy for when you clout a kerb (or cones at KH

)

Brunty · Post by **Brunty** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 2:03 pm

So why is it illegal?

My plinth pushed straight through the clam when is came into contact with a grassy bank...

Now it's velcro all the way! (for the last 3 and a half years...)

Brunty

Post by **Shug** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 2:08 pm

Brunty wrote:So why is it illegal?

Plates have to be "permanently fixed" to use their phrase - one assumes to avoid plate swapping shenanigans.....

Brunty · Post by **Brunty** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:21 pm

So screws are out then....

Brunty

Post by **Shug** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:27 pm

Brunty wrote:So screws are out then....

Brunty

There's the thing - I don't think anyone would have a problem with screws... Although you could read the above to mean that.

I think they just want to discourage anything that could be swapped in a hurry.

Blaque · Post by **Blaque** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 3:24 pm

Mine (S2, 3/4 plate) is stuck on with sticky foam pads, but then so was the original.

But if you want some stong velcro, I've got some of that too.

Post by **pete** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 8:04 pm

I got stopped by the cops (for speeding) a couple of years ago and we chatted about the lack of front plate (it was in the boot having recently fallen off). I cursed the poor build quality and agreed with them that a car that's number plate wouldn't even stay attahed was indeed very poor and they suggested velcro.

I know that doesn't make it legal but....

P